Mesopotamia

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Mesopotamia, named "land between two rivers" by the Greeks, is the generic name for many different civilizations that existed in this area over a long period, but were relatively similar in their cultures, religions, and societies. The oldest is the Sumerian, followed by Akkadian, Babylonian, and the Assyrian civilizations. The author points out that the importance of religion in the lives of the ancient Mesopotamian people was overwhelming and affected all aspects of their lives because, in the absence of other fields of intellectual discourse that are available to the modern man, only religion could provide the Mesopotamians an explanation of the forces that governed their existence. The paper relates that, although women's position in the society varied between city-states and changed over time, the Mesopotamian society basically was highly patriarchal, with the wife's position in the household firmly below that of her husband.

Table of Contents
Religion
Importance
Sources of Information
Sumerian Beliefs
Developmental Stages of the Mesopotamian Religion
Mesopotamian Religion
Temples
Mesopotamian Society
Caste System
A Patriarchal Society

From the Paper:

"The characteristics of the Mesopotamian society and the way in which developed were largely determined by the geography of the region. The rich fertile soil of the area, which was the result of the rich silt and water provided by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, attracted settlers to Mesopotamia. The rich land meant the creation of food surpluses, which allowed some settlers to move away from agriculture and into trade. It also resulted in the growth of the population that, in turn, gave rise to the process of urbanization. Most of the land was owned by temples and the king, which was "leased" out to workers who were provided with the land and tools in return for part of the profit."

More papers on Mesopotamia:

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• Analytical Essay # 126828 : "Mesopotamia and its Legacy"
• Essay # 64541 : "Urbanization in Mesopotamia"
• Essay # 25539 : "Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Hebrews"

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